Nicole decided to go visit at Vhrisma, she hadn’t been there for a long time, since she got married, not that she didn’t want to but Rafael stocked her studio full with everything she needed that she didn’t have to get anything for the rest of the year, except if there is a new trend, it was easier to work now, and she had so much work down recently, she even opened an Instagram page and so far she had over two hundred thousand followers, she never post anything of herself except her work, her fans has been asking for the face behind the brand but she was skeptical to reveal, she didn’t want the attention that comes with doing that, not to mention she was already doing too much with Natalie’s identity, first of she had laid off two brands already and was going to do more when Natalie’s contract with them ends, her ending the contract had made headlines and she had taught Rafael would be pissed but he didn’t even ask, she wanted less attention to her even though she did her best to play Natalie in social gatherings and events, at home she was Nicole and Rafael even if he didn’t know didn’t mind, she did the things she liked even going as far as sitting him down on a Sunday afternoon and drawing him from scratch to finish, he had been amazed and now had the painting in their big living room, the past one month had been blissful for her, she enjoyed every moment of it leaving her guilt behind, she left her guilt behind in blue run and had returned to the city with a new goal to enjoy each moment they had to the fullest, there were times when she just wanted to come out and tell him the truth but she held back each time because she didn’t want what she had with him to end just yet, if Natalie is keeping quiet after two months, she shouldn’t be the one to ruin it even though it ate at her for continuenously lying to him, that was the only thing she wished she could change.
“Nicole? It’s been forever,”
Grace yelled coming over to hug her, she hadn’t seen Grace for almost four months, before Natalie’s wedding that was her wedding, she had met her once and that was it, after that she had not had the chance to come to see her and she felt guilty for not doing so, Grace was her only close friend, she should have at least kept in touch with her.
“I am sorry, I went missing in action Grace, how have you been? How is Vhrisma doing?”
“It’s fine and I am doing fine, and I am going to Harvard,”
Grace revealed happily, shocking Nicole, Harvard was a huge deal and she didn’t even know Grace has wanted to go back to school.
“That’s so great to know Grace, you deserve it, dear, congratulations,”
“Thanks, I was just going to get lunch, wanna join me? I know you are here to see our new pieces, but I have been wanting to talk with you but I couldn’t reach you”
“Sure, I can always come back another time,”
She answered as Grace grabbed her bag and they left Vhrisma together.
“So, what have you been up to?”
Grace asked as they sat together eating lunch at an outdoor eatery, she dressed down so people might not recognize her.
“Nothing much, I have been at my studio almost every day,”
“Liar, I saw your wedding photos, you got married,”
She said, shocking Nicole.
“No, I didn’t, my twin did,”
She tried to defend herself.
“No, you did, you can fool everyone else but not me, I could tell it was you the moment I saw those photos, there is no way that’s your sister, I looked up photos of her just to be sure, you guys are similar, yes, but there are lots of different that people aren’t seeing, for one you are slightly chubbier and your eyes are slightly bluer than hers,”
Okay, shocked couldn’t describe how Nicole felt, it was beyond that, her mouth open and no words were coming out,
“Shocked right? And also, you have your wedding ring on, that’s like a big give away,”
“Grace, I, you,”
“You don’t need to explain, but I just don’t want you to hide when it comes to me, I have always been quick on picking up things others find hard to notice,”
“How did you know when you haven’t met my sister,”
“I kind of have met her, I met her at the mall one time and had gone to say Hi but she didn’t know who I was so that how I knew she was your twin, then about five days later, I found out about her wedding but the bride looks so much like you that I had my doubts, so I did a little research,”
She revealed, Nicole lacked the words, she didn’t know if this could happen, if someone other than their late nanny could tell them apart and here Grace was doing just that after only meeting them a few times.
“I don’t know what to say,”
“Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me and besides I am leaving for Harvard next week and I would be too absolved in my studies to think of the outside world, I just want to know how you are doing, seeing that you are married when you don’t want to,”
“I didn’t want to but now, I don’t regret it,”
“You love him?”
Grace asked and Nicole didn’t even know how to answer her.
“Do I? Am I allowed to? I don’t even know anymore Grace, he is not mine, I wish he was but he isn’t, I am just borrowing him and I will have to return him.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Don’t know yet, I am just going to enjoy now and let the future fight for itself.”
She concluded.
“It will all turn out fine, you can tell him you know,”
“I can’t, that would be betraying my sister and Rafael would hate me if he finds out I played him for a fool,”
“I don’t know him but I hope things turn out fine for you too, and you love him, it’s showing,”
“I don’t know Grace,”
She said truthfully, she didn’t know what her feelings were for Rafael but she did know he was special to her and she wanted to be with him forever, if that’s what love is then just maybe she might be in love with him…